The defense team of Vice President Sara Duterte on Monday said that they are ready to face charges should the Senate proceed with the impeachment trial against the vice president.

"Should the Senate choose to proceed, we stand ready to confront the charges and expose the baselessness of the accusations against the vice president," the vice president's defense team said in a statement.

The defense team, however, stressed that the impeachment process should not be used as a "political tool" to harass political opponents.

"The impeachment process must never be weaponized to harass, silence, or eliminate political opponents. It is a constitutional mechanism, not a political tool," the vice president's lawyers said.

Duterte's lawyers said that they have received several requests for comment regarding the calls for the Senate to immediately proceed with the impeachment trial of the vice president.

"We deem it proper to refrain from commenting on matters that are exclusive and internal to the Senate. However, we reiterate our firm position that the initiation of the impeachment process—particularly the fourth impeachment complaint—suffers from serious constitutional infirmities," the vice president's defense lawyers added.

On 29 May, Senate President Francis "Chiz" Escudero said the presentation of the Articles of Impeachment before the Senate was moved to June 11 to prioritize the passage of the items in the administration's legislative agenda before the end of the 19th Congress.

On 5 February, the House of Representatives impeached the Vice President, with 215 lawmakers backing the complaint. She faces accusations of betrayal of public trust, culpable violation of the Constitution, graft and corruption, and other high crimes, largely over the alleged misuse of P612.5 million in confidential funds of her office and the Department of Education.